KUALA LUMPUR, 20 Oct 2008: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said today he will discuss with newly-elected MCA president Datuk Ong Tee Keat about the status of a minister and two deputy ministers who lost in the MCA elections on 18 Oct.

“I would like to meet with the new MCA president for his views on the MCA minister and deputy ministers. Then, I can determine what should be done.

“For now, I cannot say anything specific. It is better for me to have discussions first with the new president,” he told reporters after chairing the fifth meeting of the Malaysia Aerospace Council (MAC) at the Parliament building, here.

In the MCA elections on 18 Oct, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan lost to former Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek in the four-corner contest for the post of deputy president. The other candidates were Datuk Donald Lim Siang Chai and Lee Hack Teik.

Deputy ministers Datuk Chor Chee Heung (Home) and Teng Boon Seng (Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage) lost in the contest for the posts of vice-president and central committee member, respectively.

Tee Keat, who is the transport minister, was elected president. He beat former Health Minister Datuk Chua Jui Meng. — Bernama